Walter Bollendonk

(1897-1977) 

In the very earliest days of my collecting, I shared the passion with my father. Our early exposure to Rockport, Massachusetts, and the Cape Ann artists provided the rare opportunity to meet a number of older artists who would soon pass away and eventually enter the canon of Cape Ann masters. Among these artists were Aldro T. Hibbard, Max Kuehne, Stanley Woodward, and the apparently lesser- known marine painter Walter Bollendonk. We had seen Wally’s work at the Rockport Art Association and North Shore Art Association and liked some examples, but not all. So we decided to call him and visit his home and studio. This was in 1966. As I remember Bollendonk’s studio, it was very simple, without the grandeur of Hibbard’s or Woodward’s studios. My father simply asked Walter to show us what he felt was his best, most ambitious marine, and he showed us this piece. My father bought it; it’s still the best Bollendonk I’ve ever seen.